International patients
Gynecologic surgery in Seoul for international patients
Somssi Women's Clinic is a surgical gynecology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, founded in 2000 and led by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD. Women travel to us from abroad for own-tissue vaginoplasty, uterus-preserving prolapse repair, labiaplasty, hymenoplasty and filler-removal surgery. Surgery is done under sedation with local anesthesia, you go home the same day, and follow-up continues by message after you fly home.
How it works
How does a visit from abroad work?
Five steps, from your first message to follow-up at home. Most women complete the whole process with one trip to Seoul.
Step 1
Online inquiry
Send your concern, medical history, previous surgeries or injections, and, if you are comfortable, photographs through our secure inquiry form , email or KakaoTalk. Our coordinator replies in English with first questions from Dr. Yoon.
Step 2
Video or written consultation
Dr. Yoon reviews your history and gives a preliminary opinion by video call or in writing: whether surgery is likely to help, which procedure, and how long to plan in Seoul. A preliminary written quote follows.
Step 3
Travel and in-person exam
At the clinic Dr. Yoon measures vaginal length, width and wall thickness, assesses pelvic floor strength and any prolapse, and performs ultrasound where needed. Only then is the final plan and quote confirmed. Surgery can follow the same day or the next.
Step 4
Surgery and same-day discharge
Procedures are performed under sedation plus long-acting local anesthesia, or local anesthesia alone if you prefer. Vaginoplasty takes about 50 to 60 minutes. You walk out the same day once you have urinated comfortably, with absorbable sutures that need no removal visit.
Step 5
Check-up, then follow-up from abroad
You are seen again before you fly, and go home with written aftercare instructions and medication for about five days. Afterwards the team follows your recovery by message or video, and you can send photographs if anything concerns you. Your local gynecologist can be briefed on request.
Planning your trip
How long should I stay in Seoul?
Because there is no hospital stay, most of your time in Seoul is for the exam, surgery and one or two check-ups before you fly. The periods below are typical recommendations; Dr. Yoon confirms your personal plan at consultation, and he may ask you to stay longer if your case is complex or you are having combined procedures.
Walking, showering and light daily activity are fine from the first day. Plan sightseeing around rest, avoid long walks for the first few days, and leave vigorous exercise, bathing and saunas for about six weeks.
Procedure guides written for visitors: vaginoplasty , pelvic organ prolapse , labiaplasty , labia majora reduction , hymenoplasty and vaginal filler removal .
Typical stay by procedure
| Procedure | Typical stay in Seoul | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Labiaplasty | 5 to 7 days | Check-up before departure; stitches dissolve; intercourse after 2 to 3 weeks |
| Vaginoplasty/ prolapse repair | 7 to 10 days | Same-day discharge; sutures absorb in about a week; intercourse after 7 to 8 weeks |
| Hymenoplasty | 3 to 5 days | Short local procedure; see the timing guide |
| Filler removal | 5 to 7 days | Depends on filler type and whether tissue repair is combined |
Typical recommendations only. The final plan is confirmed by Dr. Yoon after your in-person examination.
Language and communication
Will I be understood?
Yes. English-speaking coordinators handle your inquiry, scheduling, quote and aftercare messages, and sit in on consultations when you want them to. Dr. Yoon explains findings with measurements and diagrams so the plan is clear even across languages.
- KakaoTalk is the quickest channel for most patients: pf.kakao.com/_Ramen .
- Email somssibyeongwon@gmail.com for longer histories and documents.
- Telephone +82-2-575-1599 during clinic hours (Korea Standard Time).
- The clinic also runs an AI chat assistant trained on Dr. Yoon's published material, with automatic translation, for general questions outside office hours. It does not replace a consultation with Dr. Yoon.
If you prefer to communicate in a language other than English or Korean, tell us and we will arrange interpretation where we can.
Costs and payment
How are costs and payment handled?
We do not publish prices, because the right operation, and therefore its cost, depends on what the examination shows. After your written or video consultation you receive a preliminary written quote; it is confirmed in writing after the in-person examination and before any surgery, so there are no surprises on the day.
In Korea, reconstructive and cosmetic gynecologic procedures are classified as non-covered (non-reimbursed) services, so they are paid privately and are not billed to Korean national health insurance. Some international insurers reimburse medically indicated prolapse repair; we can provide an itemized receipt and a medical certificate for your claim, but we cannot guarantee reimbursement.
Payment is accepted by major credit and debit cards or by bank transfer. You can read more about how pricing works in Korea in our guides on vaginoplasty cost , labiaplasty cost and hymenoplasty cost .
What the quote includes
- Consultation, examination and ultrasound where needed
- Surgeon's fee, anesthesia and operating room
- Post-operative check-ups during your stay
- Medication for about five days and aftercare supplies
- Message or video follow-up after you return home
- Medical certificate and itemized receipt on request
Budgeting your trip
- Flights and accommodation for the recommended stay
- A travel insurance policy that covers elective surgery abroad
- A little extra for a quiet, comfortable room near the clinic, since rest matters more than sightseeing in the first days
Getting here
Finding the clinic in Gangnam
Address: 7F Sangkyung Building, 120 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
From Incheon International Airport: take the airport railroad (AREX) or an airport limousine bus toward Gangnam, or a taxi (roughly 60 to 80 minutes depending on traffic). By subway, change to line 2 or the Shinbundang line and get off at Gangnam Station. The clinic is about 100 meters from Exit 1.
Where to stay: the Gangnam Station and Yeoksam area has hotels at every price level within a short walk of the clinic. We suggest a room with an elevator and a comfortable bed, within a few minutes of the clinic, for the first days after surgery. Ask our coordinator if you would like neighborhood suggestions.
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 09:30 to 18:00, no lunch break. Closed Thursday, Sunday and public holidays. Contact page and directions.
Privacy
Discreet and confidential
Many women choose to have intimate surgery abroad precisely because it is private. We treat that seriously. Your inquiry, photographs and records are seen only by Dr. Yoon and the coordinator handling your case, and nothing is shared with anyone outside the clinic without your written consent.
The clinic occupies a single floor in an office building, with no signage that identifies the nature of the practice from the street, and appointments are spaced so that waiting-room time is short. Before and after photographs taken for your medical record are never used in marketing. Receipts and certificates can be worded neutrally if you need them for an employer or insurer.
If you are travelling with a partner, friend or family member, they are welcome to accompany you to the consultation if you wish, or to wait elsewhere; the choice is entirely yours.
Questions from abroad
International patient FAQ
Procedure-specific questions are answered on our main FAQ page and in the foreigner guides linked above.
Can I have surgery on the same day as my first visit?
Often, yes, if your written or video consultation has been completed and the in-person examination confirms the plan. Please fast for two hours before the visit, wear loose clothing and remove nail polish. If the exam shows something unexpected, Dr. Yoon may suggest a different procedure or a day's delay.
Is it safe to fly home a week after surgery?
For most procedures the recommended stay already allows a check-up before departure, and sitting for a long flight is acceptable with the aftercare we give you. Walk the aisle regularly and keep well hydrated. If you have a history of blood clots or other medical conditions, tell us in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Do I need a companion?
It is not required. Because anesthesia is sedation plus local rather than general, most women are able to leave the clinic unaccompanied after a short recovery period and go back to their hotel by taxi. A companion is welcome if it makes you feel more comfortable.
What if I have a problem after I get home?
Contact us by KakaoTalk or email at any stage; the coordinator will reach Dr. Yoon and reply as quickly as possible. Most concerns can be assessed from a description and photographs. If in-person care is needed, we will help you brief a local gynecologist, and we provide an operative summary on request.
Can you repair a previous surgery or remove filler done elsewhere?
Yes. Revision after unsatisfactory surgery, implant or mesh complications, and removal of vaginal filler are a regular part of the practice. Bring any records of what was done and which product was injected, if you know it; the plan depends on it.
Do you accept travel insurance or international health insurance?
We do not bill insurers directly. You pay the clinic and we give you an itemized receipt and a medical certificate to submit yourself. Cosmetic procedures are rarely reimbursed; medically indicated prolapse repair sometimes is, depending on your policy, so check with your insurer before you travel.
Plan your visit
Tell us where you are travelling from
Share your concern and your dates, and we will reply with Dr. Yoon's first opinion, a suggested length of stay and a preliminary written quote.
